The runners of the RAF Butterworth to RAF Seletar Road Relay with The AOC Singapore and RAF Seletar O/C Group Captain R.Freer Whilst in conversation with my company Sergeant Major Cockrill, One day in early October 1964, he asked me if I was going to join the RAF Seletar cross-country team on their planned forthcoming road relay from RAF Butterworth to RAF Seletar, a grand total of 510 miles.On hearing this and being rather surprised I checked with Corporal V Blackwell to get the facts.It was true that we intended to do the relay with 10 plus 1 reserve and beat RAF Changi`s time of 59 hours set two years ago. Almost at once we went into strict training, running from 60 to 70 miles a week in 5 to 12 miles stints.This sudden surge took it`s toll by making us moody and highly sensitive but by January 1st 1965 we were ready when disaster struck.Our 2 fastest runners V Blackwell and B Reid had to drop out due to compassionate reasons.So when we finally flew to RAF Butterworth on the 4th of January we had our weakest team but lots of confidence. After an afternoon in Penang we bedded down at 1900 hrs and were ready to leave at 0300 hrs 5th January 1965. Our transport consisted of a coach with 10 stretchers and 2 landrovers, 1 for the cooking and 1 for the transportation of the runners.How we were to run was for 3 runners to travel in the land rover and run 24 miles between them.The coach would hasten on 24 miles and wait with the next 3 runners ready to continue with the run. At 0300 hrs the run began.During the evening we ran a 3 – 3 – 2 system. The 1st ran 3 miles then rested for 6 miles whist the other 2 runners ran. This was repeated again and the finally with 2 miles.We intended to run each mile in 6.5 minutes but we went a lot faster.My first 8 miles were averaging 5 minutes 45 seconds a mile. During the heat of the day the times hit the 6.30 mark which wasn`t suprising as the temperature was 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade but we were ahead of the time.The evening drew close, our times quickened and then at midnight fate struck.2 of the runners Allan and Barney were taken ill.Barney was taken to Kuala Lumpar hospital with heat exhaustion and Allan was forbidden to run for at least 24 hours.Our reserve Nev Merton came in but more trouble was on it`s way. Less than 100 miles had passed when Roy collapsed with cartilage trouble in the left knee.We still carried on bearing the increased mileage per runner. The day was hot again with the temperature again in the 90`s.At the 400 mile mark during the early morning of the 7th, Team captain Tug Wilson was out of the run with a pulled leg muscle.So in theory we were down to 7 men but only 4 of these were fit to cover their expected mileage and bear the weaker lads.With 50 miles to go, 5 of the runners Terry Richards, Nev Merton, John, Chalky White and myself began the last leg.Everybody else hastened on to await us at RAF Seletar.Our ETA at RAF Seletar was now 1300 hrs but owing to our determination and confidence we reached the pearly gates of RAF Seletar at 1158hrs.Never before had I felt so happy arriving back at camp. All that was left was the reception and presentation by the AOC who was rather surprised to find out I was in the Army but as I said, I didn`t like anything unanimous.We had beaten the previous RAF Changi run time by 2 hours and 2 minutes so our run was a complete success.

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The AOC Singapore, Roy Rogers and David Moorhouse.

Roy ran the Seletar Harriers.He once flew me from Borneo to run in a race at Singapore Reservoir using Group Captain Freer`s name as authority.Those were the days.